The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has declared they would go ahead with the proposed strike to press home their demand for a N30, 000 minimum wage.
The strike which is scheduled to comence on Tuesday, November 6, according to labour will be a total shutdown of the country.
At a consolidated meeting of the Central Working Committee of all registered trade unions in Nigeria held at the Lagos Airport Hotel on Friday, the committee made up of presidents, general secretaries, and treasurers of every trade union in Nigeria reiterated their resolve to carry on with the strike.
President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said: “The Congress remains resolute on its plan to commence indefinite strike on November 6th, 2018 except government accepts and begins the process of implementation of the reports of the tripartite committee.”
He directed all stakeholders to immediately begin mobilisation of union workers for total shutdown of the country on the 6th of November.
“The joint central working committee advised Nigerians to start stocking foods and other necessities of life as workers will ensure the total shutdown of the country. We condemn government designs to clampdown on Labour. They must know that the right to strike remains with Trade Union and Labour rights as it cannot be abridged. It is what distinguishes the workers from a slave,” the NLC President declared.
He maintained that the national minimum wage tripartite negotiating council had concluded its assignment, on October 5th, 2018, and arrived at a compromised position or agreement of N30, 000 new minimum wage.
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He spoke further: “Our acceptance of agreement on the new minimum wage is borne out of patriotism and attitude of give-and-take, essentially in the spirit of patriotism and what social dialogue espouse. We condemn in very strong terms attempt by government to deploy blackmail and strong arm tactics to cow workers into submission. We rely on our rich tradition as a resilient movement that relies on the inexhaustible reserves of justice, equity and goodwill of the Nigeria people. We assure government that any attempt to muzzle workers to accept modern day slavery in their own country will be resisted.”
The Labour movement demanded that the chairman of the national minimum wage negotiating committee be allowed to submit the report of already concluded national minimum wage negotiation to President Muhammadu Buhari for transmission to the national assembly for consideration and passage into law.
Reacting to the injunction secured by the federal government from the National Industrial Court to stop the propsed strike, Joe Ajaero, president, United Labour Congress, said the Congress was not aware of any such development, describing it as mere speculation.
Recall that the Industrial court had on Friday ordered labour to go on strike on the grounds that Nigerians would suffer if they did.
